Angry truck driver pleads ‘not guilty’ to three aggravated assault and battery charges

William Eric Vauter, 58, of Houston, Texas pleaded not guilty to three felony charges of aggravated assault and battery at his arraignment in Big Horn County District Court on Tuesday, Aug. 11. Each charge holds a maximum sentence of 10 years and maximum fine of $10,000, constituting up to 30 years in prison and $30,000 fines if a maximum consecutive sentence were issued. 

Vauter was arrested following a case of severe road rage on July 22 in which he allegedly drove a semi-truck at 65 mph towards three men working to clean up an accident, a semi he had been driving two nights prior, on Road 26 outside Greybull. One of the victims in the case was Big Horn County Deputy Sheriff Nathan Kreider, who had been on scene to help control traffic and ultimately arrested Vauter for failure to yield to emergency vehicles, reckless driving and reckless endangerment.

Defense attorney Sam Krone argued for a reduction in Vauter’s $50,000 cash-only bond last Tuesday, citing Vauter’s minimal criminal history and need to travel back to South Dakota, where Vauter’s former employer Marquardt Skyway Transportation operates out of. Krone suggested a $10,000 cash or commercial bond and conditions allowing for Vauter’s travel over state lines. 

Big Horn County prosecuting attorney Marcia Bean objected, noting that Vauter has no ties to the community and participated in “flagrant, dangerous” activity. 

“He nearly hit three people... There was no reason for this except that Mr. Vauter was apparently very angry,” Bean said. With a temper and an 80,000-pound vehicle, Bean implied Vauter could be a risk. 

Krone disagreed with the characterization of the evidence, arguing that Vauter did not actually cause any bodily injury. He suggested that through Kreider’s testimony, it would have been impossible for all three of the victims to be injured, noting that originally, Vauter was arrested on misdemeanor charges. 

Judge Bobbi Overfield expressed some confusion over Vauter’s address, acknowledging court documents contained a street address in Houston, Texas, though Vauter intended to go back to South Dakota. Krone called Vauter to testify, and Vauter explained that he intended to go back to truck driving, living out of his vehicle. He stated that he receives mail both in Texas and South Dakota, and he had been speaking to a friend at Marquardt Skyway Transportation that suggested he may still have a job there. 

“I’m too old to run... I’m just happy to be able to go back to work,” Vauter said. 

Bean reported Vauter was not to have contact with Marquardt Skyway Transportation, indirect or otherwise, and that as of 15 minutes prior to the arraignment, she had confirmed he was no longer employed there. Due to his variable location, she suggested he could be a danger to the public. 

Overfield agreed, expressing concerns about Vauter’s address. Due to his limited criminal history and lack of failure to appear charges, she ultimately lowered Vauter’s bond to $25,000 cash-only with the same restrictions, including, she pointed out, a no-contact condition. Vauter remained on Big Horn County Detention Center’s jail roster as of Monday.